TO kill a Mockingbird: Jem and scout learn more out of the classroom than in.

To Kill a Mockingbird
Discussion Essay- Jem and Scout are taught nothing of great importance in the classroom. Their real education comes from the people and events they experience.

In To Kill a Mockingbird Jem and Scouts education is learnt in many ways, through classroom teaching, by their father Atticus and through Tom Robinsons trial. Through these experiences the children learn how life can bring many ordeals that are unfair or wrong but learn how it can be dealt with. Jem is affected differently than Scout because he is older and Scout doesn't fully understand the meanings of what is happening.
When Scout encounters her first day of school she learns that Miss Caroline, her teacher, uses the Dewey Decimal System. From scouts view, "The Dewey Decimal System consisted, in part, of Miss Caroline waving cards at us which were printed 'the,' 'cat,' 'rat,' 'man,' and 'you.' (pg. 23). From this experience, Scout knows that she likes learning in her own way and not Miss Caroline's.
Most of Jem and Scouts learning is from their father Atticus. Atticus lets them learn more from their experiences rather than tell them what is going to happen if they do something. When Jem and Scout followed their father to the jail and encountered the mob that was trying to get to Tom Robinson, Scout most of all learnt that not all people in Maycomb were nice, friendly people. “You know what we want,” another man said. “Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.” (ch 14-15)
Tom Robinsons trial was a life changing experience for both Jem and Scout. It showed them that a lot of racist people lived in Maycomb and that life is not fair and how they can improve themselves in life towards others. They also learnt what true courage is. "Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do." Atticus showed this to his children by following through with the trial, he knew he was going to lose but he still followed through. Although Jem and Scout were deeply affected, they can now follow through with lessons learnt in life. They now understand that school is not the only way to learn and that everyday living is just another part of their education.